The South Korean government will give North Korea $8 million worth of aid through two international organizations under the UN, as President Moon Jae-in continues to distinguish between humanitarian assistance and political and military affairs in his dealings with the Kim Jong-un regime.

South Korea Tuesday approved an enforcement ordinance for the North Korean Human Rights Act, allowing the law to come into effect this Sunday, 11 years after the bill was first submitted to the parliament.

Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn passed the ordinance during a cabinet meeting Tuesday, five months after the law was passed by the National Assembly, ending 11 years of partisan wrangling over the content and purpose of the law.

On Monday, much welcome rain fell across the nation, and though the drought-ridden South Chungcheong region saw average precipitation of 24 millimeters, that was far from enough.

Following a dry spell over the past year, eight cities and counties in South Chungcheong, including Boryeong, Seosan and Dangjin, are seriously reviewing how to combat drought in the region and adjust water supplies, including taking advantage of the four-rivers restoration project.

The region has not seen adequate rainfall since the 74 millimeters of precipitation that fell Oct. 21, 2014.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare yesterday unveiled the results of its recent open recruitment of medical personnel to be sent to Sierra Leone in response to the deadly Ebola outbreak, while detailing the countermeasures it is considering taking if anyone on the team becomes infected with the virus.